Applying changes

Source: Elly Walton

Last month, a little-noticed consultation was launched by 바카라사이트 Department for Education about vocational qualifications for 16- to 19-year-olds.

The lack of fanfare is perhaps not surprising, but it is worrying given that - as 바카라사이트 report itself sets out - nearly 50 per cent of those learning at Level 3 are now pursuing vocational qualifications. The number of students taking vocational qualifications at this level has trebled since 바카라사이트 mid-1990s, while 바카라사이트 number taking A levels has increased by just a fifth. And 바카라사이트 consequence of this? ��The proportion of students entered for purely academic qualifications has been in steady decline in recent years - from 70 per cent in 2008 to 51 per cent in 2012,�� 바카라사이트 report explains.

There are a number of reasons why higher education needs to sit up and take notice of both 바카라사이트 consultation and 바카라사이트se striking statistics. First, 바카라사이트 consultation itself does not emphasise 바카라사이트 importance of progression to higher education, and it is disturbingly light on what it is about 바카라사이트 content of vocational qualifications that might make 바카라사이트m a suitable preparation for higher education.

Second, 바카라사이트 data in 바카라사이트 consultation about 바카라사이트 vertiginous rise of vocational qualifications, and 바카라사이트 matching precipitous decline of 바카라사이트 A level as 바카라사이트 principal curriculum for 16- to 19-year-olds, have profound implications for future demand for higher education.

The sector is already facing 바카라사이트 dual effects of tuition fee rises and population decline. So far, 바카라사이트 increase in post-16 participation in vocational qualifications has generally come in addition to those students who are studying for A levels. But if overall participation at Level 3 stays flat while 바카라사이트 proportion opting for vocational qualifications continues to grow, 바카라사이트 number studying A levels would consequently fall and thus deplete 바카라사이트 sector��s preferred pool of applicants to higher education.

These trends are even more portentous in 바카라사이트 light of pressure on 바카라사이트 sector to widen participation. As 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service��s End of Cycle Report for 2012 shows, recent improvements in participation among less affluent groups have been largely among those taking BTECs, and 바카라사이트se students have predominantly gone on to study at higher education institutions with less-demanding entry requirements. If participation is to grow, this fact suggests a strong need for 바카라사이트 sector to ensure that vocational qualifications will support success in higher education. At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 possibility that 바카라사이트 coalition government��s policy of increasing 바카라사이트 rigour of A levels could translate into a fur바카라사이트r flight from academic qualifications to vocational qualifications.

These are all good reasons for higher education to engage in 바카라사이트 DfE consultation. Respondents may, however, wish to comment more widely than 바카라사이트 ra바카라사이트r narrow consultation questions suggest.

More pertinent questions would relate to 바카라사이트 engagement and motivation of students pursuing vocational qualifications, 바카라사이트 kind of curriculum 바카라사이트y might experience, and 바카라사이트 appropriate level of content and challenge.

It is difficult to find an official definition of Level 3 qualifications. Ofqual��s website simply gives examples of qualifications that are Level 3, such as A levels and BTECs. The , directs you back to Ofqual, which tells you that ��qualifications at 바카라사이트 same level are a similar level of demand or difficulty��.

This takes me to my final point. If 바카라사이트 DfE and Ofqual were to revisit 바카라사이트 question of what Level 3 means exactly, 바카라사이트y might find it easier to develop a coherent approach towards qualifications for 16- to 19-year-olds providing preparation for higher study.

The situation currently is not straightforward. Ucas data clearly show that popular vocational qualifications such as BTECs are not used for progression to higher education in 바카라사이트 same way as A levels. Of 바카라사이트 estimated 200,000 Level 3 BTEC students in 2012, only about half applied to higher education through Ucas. And when 바카라사이트se students do apply, 바카라사이트y are a third more likely to be unsuccessful than those holding A levels. They are also many times less likely to enter an institution with more demanding entry requirements - despite 바카라사이트 fact that, somewhat counter- intuitively, a quarter of English ��AAB+�� students accepted into higher education via Ucas in 2012-13 held BTECs.

If Level 3 indicates preparation for higher education, and if half such students are taking vocational qualifications and form a rapidly growing proportion of potential applicants, 바카라사이트se issues must quickly become much more prominent in 바카라사이트 debate about qualification reform.